This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Don’t allow yourself to get sucked into comparing yourself to others
Sometimes we can find ourselves making broad comparisons regarding our endeavors in life. These comparisons can harm our self-image and discipline.
Perhaps you’re a college athlete, and you’re comparing yourself to Lebron James or Tom Brady. Maybe you’re an entrepreneur, and you’re comparing yourself to Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk. You could be an aspiring actor/actress, comparing yourself to Anne Hathaway or Tom Cruise.
It can be discouraging when we focus on the talent or performance gap between other individuals and us. It’s important to remember that we must not lose our discipline or desire to improve in life simply because we do not compare to the best. You may still be fulfilling your potential. Or the simple truth is you may never be the best! And frankly, that’s completely okay.”
Philosopher Paco
The Interpretation
We are all capable of being the best we can be because we have limitless potential. About 95–99% of the mind is underutilized, which means there is a crazy amount of opportunity left for us to tap into.
Sometimes we get discouraged because other people are accomplishing more than us. Sometimes, we get discouraged because it seems that other people are more skilled than us; this is okay. We don’t have to feel defeated. As long as we’re putting our best feet forward, we’re on track. We also don’t need to give up because we believe we will never measure up to certain “experts” in their craft.
All it takes to be your “best” is consistency. As Malcolm Gladwell recommends, investing 10,000 hours of diligent practice will help us master our craft. We don’t get to 10,000 hours overnight, though. It takes years of dedication, energy, and times we feel like giving up. Once we reach that amount of time, we’re still not done growing. We only start to develop ourselves further and tap into our unlimited potential beyond the “mastery” level.
Pipe Dream?
If you want to be a painter, writer, musician, singer, dancer, social media star, entrepreneur, or actress, maybe you feel like it’s a pipe dream because so many people want to be this, but it’s not. There is more than enough opportunity in the universe for us all to be what we desire. If you put your heart and consistent action into your dreams, you will experience the manifestation of your ideal reality.
Don’t sacrifice discipline, consistency, self-belief, and your confidence in the process of creating the reality you most desire because you feel you don’t measure up to “the greats”. We’re all greats; we simply need to believe this truth.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.